Yes to Life is inspired by a vision of a different way of responding to cancer. We support integrative cancer care which allows individuals to ally standard care with the best of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
This blog aims to share any information the Yes to Life team discovers along the way that we think would be beneficial for our supporters to read.

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Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Breast Cancer Seminar Review 2014: The Power of Choice with Dr. Contreras

Today's post follows on from our major annual seminar 'Breast Cancer - The Power of Choice' held on Saturday 4th of July 2014. The event was headlined by world renowned integrative oncologist Dr. Francisco Contreras from Oasis of Hope Hospital in Mexico, who alongside other experts aimed to separate myth from fact and share his extensive experience.

The UK has one of the highest incidence rates of breast cancer
in the world and unfortunately it is a figure which is only rising. So as we
sat to begin Yes to Life’s major annual seminar on the topic, it was not without the sense of standing up to issues which in some way affects us all. Hosted
by Yes to Life’s founder Robin Daly, the event took place on Saturday 4th
July at the beautifully historic Glazier’s Hall. Leading oncologists, doctors,
nurses and health care professionals gathered with patients and carers to talk
about the facts about breast cancer, the myths, the options open for sufferers
and most importantly the hope for a healthier future.

Dr Francisco Contreras gave the first presentation of the
morning. As director of the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Mexico Dr Contreras is
one of the most knowledgeable integrative oncologists in the field and as he
took the stage it was clear his expertise was matched by a genuine sense of
warmth for his patients. He presented Breast Cancer as a ‘cultural problem’ and
stressed that whatever the gains in genetic medicine, it would always remain a
disease that is highly influenced by lifestyle. Dr Contreras referred to
statistics which showed that a 1% increase in a country’s GDP pointed to a 35%
increase in the rates of breast cancer incidence, in other words in wealthier
countries you are far more likely to suffer from breast cancer. He also pointed
out that within countries the wealthier sections are also more likely to become
afflicted with the disease.

What are the reasons for this? According to Dr Contreras it
all comes down to lifestyle. Breast cancer is strongly linked to over-exposure
of oestrogen. Women are necessarily exposed to this hormone from their first
period until their last and have natural breaks from it during pregnancies.
Many lifestyle factors however have started to increase this exposure. In the
West oestrogen is commonly added to foodstuffs, most notably in meat and milk
production, which is one of the reasons girls have started to menstruate
earlier. Western women statistically have fewer children and tend to have them
later in life; they are also more likely to use contraceptives containing oestrogen
which again increases exposure. Many women also use HRT during menopause which
prolongs the time they would naturally be subjected to the hormone. All of
these factors are increasing the amount of oestrogen women are subject to in a
lifetime, thus contributing to the rise in breast cancer incidence in the West.

One of the elements Dr Contreras emphasised in the
prevention and treatment of breast cancer is the importance of diet, reiterating
Hippocrates’ famous words ‘let food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food’. Where
animal products are pumped with oestrogen they should be avoided and the same
for fruit and vegetables treated with pesticides. Dr Contreras pointed to the
fact that cancer cells feed on sugar and therefore this was another thing to be
avoided. Dr Contreras said ‘if you are negotiating for a life there has to be some
sacrifices’ and explained how within a group of long term survivors the most
obvious common factor was diet. He was also however very quick to make clear
that one of the most important things was to find a way to be happy with what
you were eating, food should never make you fearful or miserable!

Staying positive was in fact another central part of the
hospital’s work. Dr Contreras maintains an entirely holistic view of the
patient and insists they be treated as a person rather than just a tumour. Alongside treatments both orthodox and
alternative, every patient at the Oasis of Hope undergoes counselling with the
belief that the emotional and spiritual aspect of an individual deserves the
same healing attention as the body. Patients are also required to bring a loved one
along with them for the duration of their treatment.

Two doctors spoke about Hyperthermia and Mistletoe therapy,
both which are being used in the UK alongside orthodox treatments. Dr Siegfried
Trefzer from the High Tree Medical Clinic in Sussex spoke about using Hyperthermia
in cancer care. Cancer cells hate heat so by elevating the whole body
temperature to 39.5 degrees Celsius, gains can be made in tumour reduction. The
patient lies down in a reflective, brightly lit and heated box for a calculated
amount of time, whilst being monitored for temperature and vital statistics.
Within the groups they have been working with results have shown to be very
effective.

Mistletoe therapy was the topic covered by Dr Stefan Geider
from Camphill Medical Practice in Aberdeen. A semi-parasitic plant, poisonous
in high doses and more commonly seen at Christmas parties, Mistletoe has
incredible health properties. It is primarily used to boost the immune system
which is of vital importance for any patient suffering a chronic disease, such
a breast cancer. Subcutaneously injected on a weekly basis, mistletoe not only
functions to bolster the body’s own attempts to attack cancer cells but has in
some cases also been seen to reduce tumours.
Mistletoe has also been observed as a strong mood enhancer, greatly
improving the well-being of patients. Studies are ongoing but current evidence
points to mistletoe being an effective alternative cancer therapy, and most
importantly a non-toxic one.

Following an appropriately delicious and nourishing lunch,
Jenny Philips spoke about the importance of nutrition in breast cancer care.
Having gone through the disease herself, Jenny practises what she preaches and
insists that eating well should be a matter of enjoyment not deprivation. She
maintains that Nutritional Therapy is one of the most powerful ways to naturally
boost your health as both a preventative and alongside medical treatments. Some
of the biggest and most instant gains are to be made in well-being and energy
levels, which is of great relevance for anyone going through cancer treatment.
Through her organisation Inspired Nutrition, Jenny regularly runs cookery
workshops for Yes to Life beneficiaries teaching inspiring recipes to
positively enhance health (see more information on our website).

As the seminar came to a close, delegates gathered in the
refreshments room where the discussions could have gone on for hours. The
momentum created by the talks was tangible as people made notes and shared
experiences. Although the day had come to an end there was a sense of new seeds
being sown within the cracks of hope that had been determinedly forced into our
understanding of breast cancer. There was suddenly the chance to move forward
with the idea that there were options open; that in spite of breast cancer
there was still the power the make choices, to say Yes to Life. Breast cancer
might be one of our biggest health challenges but with so many professionals
and individuals exploring the possibilities our prospects for meeting these
challenges only grow.

To find out more about Yes to Life's work check out our website www.yestolife.org.uk, email office@yestolife.org.uk or call our office on 0845 257 6950.

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The Yes to Life Blog

This blog will cover a range of topics which all relate back to cancer prevention and cancer recovery, including scientific research, lifestyle and nutrition tips, and some interesting and intimate accounts of people's personal experiences with cancer.

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Any information posted to the Yes to Life blog expresses only the views of the author of the post and does not necessarily reflect the views of Yes to Life or any other person or entity associated with them or the blog. Any information contained on this blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you have cancer, or if you are concerned about cancer, please seek medical advice.